Josh Naylor signed a five-year, $92.5 million deal to stay in Seattle this offseason, making him one of the cornerstones of the Mariners’ roster going forward. The expectation was for him to build on a strong 2025 campaign that helped carry the club deep into October. Instead, 2026 has been a grind.
Naylor is slashing .260/.325/.370 with five home runs, 22 RBI and 12 stolen bases on the season, a far cry from the production Seattle paid for. He had been showing signs of life recently, riding a nine-game hitting streak entering this week, but Monday’s game brought more bad news.
The Mariners have not lived up to expectations in 2026, and their inconsistent offense has been a big part of why. Losing Naylor mid-game does nothing to help that.
Josh Naylor Exits With Back Spasms vs. New York Mets
Per Underdog MLB, Naylor left Monday’s game against the New York Mets due to back spasms. No further timetable has been provided, and his status for the rest of the series remains unclear.
This is another injury concern for a player who has battled his share of physical setbacks. Earlier this season, Naylor missed time with quad tightness, sitting out a game in late April. Back spasms can range from a day-to-day situation to a stint on the injured list depending on severity.
After a rough start to 2026, Naylor had responded with a .397 average and 1.020 OPS over his last 19 contests before this latest issue surfaced. Losing that momentum to another injury is a tough blow.
The Mariners continue their three-game home series against the New York Mets on Wednesday at T-Mobile Park. Updates on Naylor’s status are expected ahead of that contest.
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